The Linden Foundation Inc
The Linden Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Boston, Massachusetts. It funds nonprofit organizations that strengthen families facing multiple hardships, with a preference for community-based organizations offering comprehensive, sustained support that builds family resilience and involves multiple family members.
The Linden Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: The Linden Foundation Inc gave $845K across 26 grants in 2025 (avg $33K), mostly in New Hampshire. 0% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $845,000
- -0.7% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 26
- -7.1% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $32,500
- +6.9% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $25,000
- Total assets
- $14,173,945
- +6.9% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 0% first-time grantees (0 of 26, 2025)
- Primary geography
- New Hampshire (54% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Linden Foundation Inc
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The Foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and considers proposals from invited organizations. Its website says letters of inquiry are not being accepted at this time and that selected organizations are invited to submit full proposals. For new applicants, requested materials include an application cover sheet, a narrative, program and organizational budgets, board-member information, key personnel qualifications, a 501(c)(3) determination letter, recent financial statements, and information on other funding. The website describes general full-proposal deadlines of March 1 and September 1, with decisions generally made by June 1 and December 1.
- Review Cycle
- The general deadlines listed above are recurring dates on the Foundation’s website; no currently open application deadline is stated. The special 2025 initiative’s October 15, 2025 full-proposal deadline has passed.
- Deadline
- The general deadlines listed above are recurring dates on the Foundation’s website; no currently open application…
- Contact
Mailing address: 2 Liberty Square 500, Boston, MA 02109
Phone: (617) 426-7080
Website: https://lindenfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Linden Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Lakes Region Community Developers ($185K). Together the top 10 received $520K.
Grant Size Distribution
116 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 109 grants of 116 (94%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2025 filing reports grant dollars by recipient state as New Hampshire, 54%; Massachusetts, 43%; and New York, 4%. The Foundation’s 2025 special initiative identified the North Shore, especially Gloucester, Lynn, and Salem; the Merrimack Valley, especially Haverhill, Methuen, Lawrence, and Lowell; the Capital Region; Greater Manchester; and the Lakes Region as focus areas for that initiative.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 26 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Linden Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
0%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 0 of 26 grantees (0%) were first-time recipients. How we count
- 100% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 77% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 132% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $418K (2019) to $851K (2024). In 2025 it made 26 grants totaling $845K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Lakes Region Community Developers Laconia, NH | General Operating/Program Support | $185,000 |
| Archways (FKA Greater Tilton Area Family Resource Center) Tilton, NH | General Operating/Program Support | $75,000 |
| Act Lawrence Lawrence, MA | General Operating/Program Support | $45,000 |
| Wellspring House Gloucester, MA | General Operating/Program Support | $35,000 |
| Action Inc Gloucester, MA | General Operating/Program Support | $30,000 |
| Lakes Region Community Services Laconia, NH | General Operating/Program Support | $30,000 |
| Parentchild New York, NY | General Operating/Program Support | $30,000 |
| Pathways Adult Education and Training Inc Lynn, MA | General Operating/Program Support | $30,000 |
| Pathways for Childrencape Ann Families Gloucester, MA | General Operating/Program Support | $30,000 |
| Project Kompass North Chelmsford, MA | General Operating/Program Support | $30,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $14,173,945 | $1,364,079 | $974,811 | $845,000 | 26 | $880,494 | $1,299,626 | $669,147 |
| 2024 | $13,254,772 | $1,064,601 | $954,891 | $851,000 | 28 | $892,730 | $1,006,949 | $640,896 |
| 2023 | $12,419,316 | $515,945 | $666,486 | $575,500 | 23 | $608,137 | $484,609 | $575,636 |
| 2022 | $10,939,565 | $600,220 | $563,543 | $476,500 | 19 | $508,393 | $546,353 | $568,125 |
| 2021 | $13,400,332 | $352,175 | $654,627 | $566,000 | 20 | $597,918 | $294,897 | $607,238 |
| 2020 | $11,510,625 | $437,380 | $707,130 | $594,500 | 21 | — | $387,416 | $507,845 |
| 2019 | $10,521,251 | $1,116,005 | $499,901 | $418,000 | 20 | — | $990,473 | $463,359 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Linden Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $669K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation’s stated vision is of families weathering life’s challenges while nurturing and supporting one another. Its funding priorities include programs that build parenting, mediation, relationship, and stress-management skills; workforce development, job training, financial education, and certain quality child care; and housing support, including services and assistance that help families find or retain housing. Stand-alone child care is not eligible. For any of the three strategies, up to 25% of a grant request may include direct cash assistance to clients for necessities such as food, medical care, transportation, housing, or utilities.
The Foundation funds direct program support and general operating support, and occasionally modest capital needs associated with a particular program. It may consider existing programs, expansions of successful pilots, and new programs. It does not fund individuals, public or charter schools, colleges, or universities; community organizing, political lobbying, stand-alone enrichment activities, computer centers, or general operating support for community centers.
Examples of grantees’ work include ACT Lawrence’s social and economic justice work through community development, financial coaching, and youth leadership; Wellspring House’s work to support employment and financial security through housing, education, and job training; and Project Kompass’s transitional housing and life-skills support for young women, new mothers, and babies experiencing homelessness. These descriptions reflect the organizations’ own missions, not the Foundation’s.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the Foundation reported 26 grants totaling $845,000. Individual grants ranged from $10,000 to $185,000, with a median of $25,000. The largest awards included $185,000 to Lakes Region Community Developers and $75,000 to Archways, both for general operating/program support. Other notable 2025 grants for the same purpose were $45,000 to ACT Lawrence; $35,000 to Wellspring House; and $30,000 each to Action Inc, Lakes Region Community Services, ParentChild, Pathways Adult Education and Training, Pathways for Children Cape Ann Families, Project Kompass, RAW Art Works, and Voices Against Violence.
The website says initial grants are generally up to $20,000; selected organizations may be invited to seek multi-year grants of $25,000 to $75,000 annually. A separate 2025 special initiative for newcomer, immigrant, and refugee families described awards averaging $50,000 to $100,000 per year for up to three years, with up to 30% of the requested amount available for general operating expenses. That initiative’s application cycle, with full proposals due October 15, 2025, was a past cycle as of October 2, 2026.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Margen S Kelsey as president and director; William C Kelsey as treasurer and director; Suzanne V A Kelsey as secretary and director; and Kenneth V Siegert, Mark J Pine, and Lea Dobbs Kelsey as directors. Thomas V A Kelsey is listed as a director until October 29, 2025.
The Linden Foundation Inc is led by Margen S. Kelsey, President & Director on every filing since 2019; none of the 7 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Margen S. Kelsey
President & Director
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kenneth V. Siegert
Director
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lea Dobbs Kelsey
Director
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mark J. Pine
Director
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Suzanne V. A. Kelsey
Secretary & Director
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Thomas V. A. Kelsey
Director
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
William C. Kelsey
Treasurer & Director
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Elizabeth S. Kelsey (2019) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about The Linden Foundation Inc
How much does The Linden Foundation Inc give each year?
The Linden Foundation Inc gave $845K across 26 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $851K across 28 grants.
What is The Linden Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
The Linden Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $25,000, and its average grant was $32,500, across 26 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Linden Foundation Inc give grants?
The Linden Foundation Inc gives mostly in New Hampshire: 54% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Massachusetts (43%). The most frequent recipient cities were Manchester, NH (4 grants), Laconia, NH (3 grants), Gloucester, MA (3 grants) and Lynn, MA (3 grants).
Does The Linden Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of The Linden Foundation Inc's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (26 of 26) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Linden Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
The Linden Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Lakes Region Community Developers ($185,000), Archways (FKA Greater Tilton Area Family Resource Center) ($75,000) and Act Lawrence ($45,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 36% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Linden Foundation Inc?
The Linden Foundation Inc reported $14.2M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $880K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $669K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Linden Foundation Inc fund?
The Foundation’s stated vision is of families weathering life’s challenges while nurturing and supporting one another. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Linden Foundation Inc?
The Foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and considers proposals from invited organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Linden Foundation Inc's EIN?
The Linden Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 22-6678640. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does The Linden Foundation Inc accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS May 12, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS April 13, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS March 25, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS March 7, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS April 24, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS March 20, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS March 7, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025
Live grants for the work The Linden Foundation Inc funds
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Linden Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-linden-foundation-inc-morg_e855a21f682a4bd7ad02c022fafcb20c
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_226678640_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Linden Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-linden-foundation-inc-morg_e855a21f682a4bd7ad02c022fafcb20c},
note = {Accessed 2026-11-04. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from The Linden Foundation Inc's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
The Linden Foundation Inc down — hundreds of funders to go?